Series 1 > Loyall dissuasive

184
THE LOYALL DISSUASIVE
yrafter go on to the second article of my charge concerning my
transaction with the Clanns. I begin with the instances of my
zeal and forwardness to serve Mr. Paine in my own Countrey,
where I thought all I was capable of and more was justlie due
to a gentleman I valued so much, and was so kind to me in his.
First when he was unluckily made prisoner, and brought
under guards, to a room at Mrs. Gibs in the Abbay,11 hade
the interest within a few days after, to furnish him a friend, a
gentleman of quality; who solely at my request, and upon the
credit of my character, was content to baile him, and accord¬
ingly offered his bond to the Lord Melville,2 at that time Com¬
missioner for the Prince of Orange, for what sum he pleased,
for his peaceable deportment, but no bail could be admitted
till the Prince of Orange was first acquainted.
This having failed, and understanding by some friends I
hade in Councill that yr were hard things moved and designed
against him, I made it my business for some days after, and
hade the success to influence one of the officers of the guard to
set him free, when it came to be his turn to be on duty. Which
Mr. Paine knows was timely and seasonably proposed, but at
that time for some reasons modestlie declyned, whereas the
Gentleman who made the kind offer risqued his all, if I hade
been the man some of the unthinking of our side are pleased to
represent me; so his being safe and nameless always since, is the
plainest contradiction can be offered to such groundless and
malicious insinuations. But then Mr. Paine being shortlie
after carried to the Castle, there was ane vote passed in
Councill3 for his and two oyre torture, which was intimated
on Monday by one of the Councill Macers to be executed the
1 He speaks of the house as one of the principal inns in the Canongate,
where prisoners of rank were under guard, Lady Errol being one of such at the
same time as our author.
2 George, fourth Lord and first Earl of Melville, created 1690. He was
Secretary of State and Commissioner to the Parliament which met in 1690, one
of whose acts was to rescind his own forfeitures under James. He died in 1707.
See Carstare’s State Papers.
3 Under date 4th August the High Commissioner and Lords of Privy
Council ordain the torture to be put to Henry Nevil Payne, Kendall, alias
Morgan, Colin, John, and Patrick Bells, in their own presence or a committee
appointed for that effect. The order is subscribed by Melville, Crawford, Argyle,
Sutherland, Eglinton, Leven, Forfar, Cardross, and Ruthven.